Transmission mechanism



Nov.'3 0, 1943. E. SIMMONS 2,335,318 y TRANSMISSION MECHANISM VFiledJune'lo. 1941 4 sheets-sheet 1 l 4 n 7 y gg v ly/lgj. 7

Nov. so, 1943.

L E. SIMMoNs 2,335,318/

TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Fired June 1o'. 1941 -4 sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 30,1943.

L E. slMMoNs TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed June` *1o. 1941 L 4sheets-sheet s y Nov. 30, 1943. L. E. SIMMONS y TRANSMISSION MECHANISM 4She-ebS-She'et 4 Filed June 1o. 194i www@ Patented Nov. 30, 1943TRANSMISSION MECHANISM `Leon E. Simmons, Claremont, NfH., assigner toSullivan Machinery Company, a corporation 'f Massachusetts ApplicationJune 10, 1941. serial ivo. 397,499 14 claims. (o1. 'mi-359i Thisinvention relates to transmission mechanisms especially designed for usein mining machines, and more particularly to improvements in the feedingmechanism of a coal mining machine of the iiexibly fed, floor cuttertype.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved miningmachine transmission mechanism. Another object is to provide an improvedfeeding mechanism for a coal mining machine. A further object is toprovide an improved flexible feeding mechanism wherein relatively`rotatable cable winding drums are ernployed to effect feeding andguiding of the machine and having improved plural speed transmissionmeans for driving the drums at different speeds. A still further objectis to provide an improved plural speed transmission mechanism which isextremely simple in construction due `to a novel arrangement of thetransmission elements. Yet another object is to provide an improvedplural speed transmission mechanism for effecting drive of the cablewinding drums at relatively low and relatively high speeds. Stillanother object is to provide improved high and low speed gearings fordriving the cable winding drums and each gearing including gear elementscommon to the drive of both drums. A still further object is to providean improved flexible feeding means for a coal mining machine havingimproved means for driving the feeding and `controlling drums at aplurality of speeds in a direc; tion to wind in the feeding andcontrolling cables whereby the machine may loe` fedand guided in aniinfr oiled manner. Another object is to provide an improved pluralspeed transmission mechanism embodying high and W speed gearings andclutch-controlled means whereby either gearing may eifect drive ofeither of the cable Winding drums whereby the latter may be drivenseparately at a plurality of speeds or concurrently at relativelydifferent speeds. ,A still further object is to provide an improvedmining machine feeding mechanism having novel arrangements andcombinations of parts. Other objects andadvantages of the inventionwill, however, hereinafter more fully appear in the ensuing description,

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for illustrative purposesone form which the inventicn may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coal mining machine in which an illustrativeembodiment of the invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the mining machine shown in Fig'.1.A

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in longitudinal vertical section takensubstantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 1'.

Fig; Ai is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, with the`cover plate removed and parts shown in horizontal section to illustratestructural details; l o

o Fig,` 5 is a cross sectional View taken substantially on lineair-Spflig. 4;.

Fig. 6 is a detail verticalsectional View taken substantially on line6-6 of Fig. 4, on a reduced scale. y 4 t v In thisillustrative,embodiment of the invention, the improved transmissionmechanism is shown incorporated in the feeding mechanism of a coalVmining machine of the'fiexibly fed, room and pillar type, although itwill be evidentthart various features of the inventiovm withoutdeparting from itsspirit, maybe employed in minins machines f, variousQiheriypes.,

The mining machine, disclosed., @empfing e main frameV l mounted on abottom skid platte 2 for Sl1inm9VmIit9Yr the. mnClOQl .PPO- J'Ccngowilllllengthws lie. mail? llam?. l ansi. Siiiipiiiied Within the'laiterie@ hQi-Zoiiial plans Cutter, bei', .3. having aiieiidless cutterchain 41 guided for circulant in an `@infini path about its margini. VArrangedVat/the oppostesides ofthe raivv'isipofiimi 0f the, minieme arerelatively rotatable feeding and controlling, ycablewinding drun'is 5land s dri whkiehfeeding and Controlling cables 'I andi)Iare#respectively wound: Arranged at the opposite sides of front end ofthe main fratrie l are -swing-arrn-rnol'lnted guide sheaves 9 and I0,while arranged at the rear end of the main frame are guide sheaves] I',|2`a'nd I3', and thfeeding and controlling cables 1 and s may beextended from their' respective drumsarourld these guide-sheaves invariousdi; rectionsirom the'machirie' diiringthe fe ing and guidingoftnemaphine, in tnemrlne well understood by those skilled'intlie art.Arra ged within the forward portion of the mainofra'nevi, above thecutter banis a motor I 6 'hvin'g'lits fer shaft I1 horizontally disposedand' extending longitudinally of the machine with its axis ofrotatienlying in me centra-i longitudinal yrtii piane of the lauernYThis; motor Adrives the cutter chain 4 and the feeding andcontrollin'gdiiims 5 ads, as will ratei be described.' p

The einer'` than 'dining tiene assises bevel pinion iskeyeditrxe'reafens lci the hotgfr power shaft l1 (Fig. 3)" aria meshing`with aiig horizontal bevel gear i5 rotatable on a vertical axis lyingin the same vertical plane as the motor power shaft axis. The hub of thebevel gear I9 is journaled in a ball bearing supported within thebearing-supporting-hub of a detachable bearing support 2|) secured tothe main frame. The bevel gear hub has an internal hollow vertical shaft2| surrounding a vertical shaft 22, and the hollow shaft 2 l' isjournaled at its upper end on a bearing supported by the shaft 22, inthe manner shown. The shaft 22 is journaled in a roller bearingsupported within a detachable top cover to the controlling drum 3.Secured to and driven by the spur gear 38 is a spur gear 5i) having asomewhat less number of teeth than the spur gear d0 and meshing with aspur gear 5| having a somewhat greater number of teeth than the spurgear 4|. The gear 5| is secured to a Vertical shaft 52 suitablyjournaled within the main frame. Secured to and driven by the verticalshaft 52 is'a low speed worm 53 meshing with a low speed worm wheel 54,the latter being connectible by a conventional multiple disc clutch 55plate 23 and is journaled near its lower endV within a ball bearingsupported within the .bearf Y sliding clutch member 25 are movable intosliding interlocking engagement with the upper portions of the spur gearteeth and with the teeth of a clutch member 23 keyed to the upper end ofthe shaft 22 to connect the latter in driven relation with the hollowshaft 2|. Keyed to the lower end of the shaft 22 is a chain sprocket 2lwhich engages and drives the endless cutter chain The operating meansfor the sliding clutch membei' 25 comprises a shipper yoke 23 having asleevelike hub 29 journaled on bearing sleeves supported byatransverse'shaft 35 (Fig. 5). The shipper yoke 28 may be actuatedthrough operatingconnections 3| including an operating handle 32conveniently arranged at the rear end of the machine. It is accordinglyevident that when the sliding-clutch-member is moved into the positionshown inv Fig. 3 to interlock the upper portions of the teeth of thespur gear 2d with the teeth of the clutch member 26', the cutter chainmay be driven from the motor through the bevel gearing I3, I9, hollowvertical shaft 2i, vertical shaft 22 and the chain sprocket 2l, and whenthe sliding-clutch-member is moved upwardly into its released positionthe cutter chain may remain idle during running of the motor.

f Now referringv to ther improved plural speed transmission mechanismfor effecting drive of the feeding and controlling drums 5 and 6, itwill be noted that meshing with the lower portions of the teeth of thespur gear 2 4 is a spur gear 33 4journaled on roller bearings supportedby a Vertical shaft Sii. This shaft is arranged forwardly of thevertical shaft 22 and is supported at its upper end within the top coverplate 23 and at its lower end'within a bracket 35, and the shaft is heldagainstl rotation with respect to the bracket by means of a key pin 33received within a vertical key slot in the bracket. Formed on the hub ofthe spur gear 33 is a spur gear 3'! meshing with spur gears 33 and39.The axes of rotation of the spur gears 33 and 39 are'spacedequi-distantly from the central longitudinal vertical plane of thelmachine and lie in acomrnon vertical plane eX- tending transversely ofthe machine (see 4) Secured to and driven bythe spur gear 39 is a spurgear lill meshingV with a spur gear di secured to a vertical shaft42suitab1y journaledwithin the main frame. Secured to and driven bythevertical shaft 42 is a fast speed worm 43 meshing with a yfast speedworm wheel 44, the latter being connectible by a conventional multipledisc clutch l5 to ahorizontal shaft lit. The shaft 43 extendstransversely of the machine andis suitably journaled within Abearingssupported'withinrthe main frame, and has secured thereto and drives aspur gear lil meshing-with an internal gear 48 secured (see also Fig. 6)to a horizontal shaft 55, similar to the shaft l5 of the fast speedtransmission mechanism. The horizontal shaft 56 extends transversely ofthe machine and is suitably journaled within bearings supported withinthe main frame, Secured to and driven by the shaft 55 is a spur gear 5lmeshing with an internal gear 58 secured to the feeding drum 5. Theoperating means forthe disc clutches 35 and 55 are identical in designand each comprises a shipper yoke 53 pivotally mounted at 53 within themain frame and engaging a shipper ring 6|, the latter having fingersprojecting into engagement with the end pressure plate of the discclutch operated thereby. Engaged in a slot S2 in an arm 63 integral withthe shipper yoke is a crank pin 54 secured to a vertical operating shaft35 having an operating lever 65. These clutch operating levers extendrearwardly over the top of the main frame and have grasping portionsconveniently located at the rear end of the machine. It will thus beseen that when the disc clutch 45 is applied, the controlling drum 6 maybe driven in cable winding direction at a relatively high speed from themachine motor through bevel gearing i8, lil, spur gearing 24, 33, 3l,39, 33, 4|, the fast speed worm gearing 33, M, shaft 43 and the spurgear 'l meshing with the internal gear i8 secured to the drum. Thefeeding drum 5 may be driven in cable winding direction at al relativelylow speed from the machine motor through bevel gearing i8, I9, spurgearing 24, 33, 3l, 38, 535l, the low speed Worm gearing 53, 54, shaft5E and the spur gear 5l meshing with the internal gear 58 secured to thedrum.

' VNow referring to the improved clutch-controlled connections wherebythe feeding drum 5 may be driven at arelatively high speed and thecontrolling drum 5 may be driven at a relatively low speed, it will benoted that arranged coaxially with4 the fast speed Worm wheel 44 is aspur gear 63 having its hub keyed to the shaft 36, and this spur gearmeshes with a spur gear 39 secured to the horizontal shaft 33. The shaft35 extends transversely of the machine rearwardly of the vertical shaft22 and is suitably journaled within bearings supported within the mainframe. Journaled on a bearing sleeve supported by the shaft 33 is a spurgear 73, and this gear is connectible to the shaft 35 by asliding-clutch member ll splined at i2 to the shaft and having clutchteeth connectible to clutch teeth E3 on the gear 13. The clutch member7| is operated by a shipper yoke le actuated through operatingconnections including an operating handle 'l5 conveniently arranged atthe rear end of the machine. Meshing with and driven by the spur gear 73is a spur gear 'i5 secured to a horizontal shaft Ti, the latter beingarranged parallel with and below the shaft 33 and likewise suitablyjournaled within bearings supported withinV the main frame. Keyed to'anddriven by the shaft Tl is a spur gear i8 meshing with a spur gearl'lSherein aeaasrs arranged coaxial with the low speed worm Wheel 54 andkeyed to the shaft 56.

The feeding and controlling drums 5 and 6 are mounted on `eccentricbushings whereby the drum gears may be released from their driving gearsto permit free drum rotation, in the manner fully described in PatentNo. 2,131,178 in which I am coinventor. Since these drum mountings aresimilar in construction, a description of the drum mounting for thefeeding drum 5 will suflice for both. As shown in Fig. 6, the drum isjournaled on a bearing sleeve supported on an eccentric bushing 8Usupported by a stub shaft 8| secured to the adjacent side of the mainframe. Secured to the eccentric bushing 88 is an operating lever 82whereby the bushing may be rotated relative to the stub shaft to effectrelease of the internal drum gear 58 for meshing engagement with thedriving gear 51. As these eccentric drum drive release devices are fullydescribed in the above 'mentioned patent and do not per se enter intothe present invention, further detailed description thereof isunnecessary.

Associated with the controlling drum 6 is a friction brake wherebyrotation of the controlling drum in cable unwinding direction may befrictionally resisted, and this brake comprises a series of frictiondiscs 83 secured to the hub of the spur gear 68 (Fig. Ll) andinterleaved with a series of `friction discs 84 secured to a sleevelikemember 85, the latter being rigidly secured to the adjacent side f themain frame. This brake is operated through the same operating means asthat which operates the disc clutch 45, and the shipper ring 6l hasfingers which project into engagement with the end pressure plate of thebrake, so that when the disc clutch 45 is released the brake may beapplied.

From the foregoing it will be evident that when the disc clutch 45 isapplied and the clutch member 1| is connected, the feeding drum 5 may bedriven in cable winding direction at a relatively high speed through thehigh speed worm gearing 43, 44, shaft 46, spur gears 68, 69, shaft 30,spur gears 10, 16, shaft 11, spur gears 18, 19, shaft 56 and the gear 51meshing with the internal gear 58 secured to the drum. It will also beevident that when the disc clutch 55 is applied and the clutch member 1lis connected, the controlling drum 6 may be driven in cable windingdirection at a relatively low speed through the worm gearing 53, 54,shaft 56, spur gearing 19, 18, shaft 11, spur gears 16, 18, shaft 38,spur gears 69, 68, shaft 46 and the gear 41 meshing with the internalgear 48 secured to the drum. During drive of the feeding drum 5 at arelatively low speed and drive of the controlling drum 6 at a relativelyhigh speed, the clutch member 1l is released. Also, during drive ofeither drum at either speed the other drum may remainidle simply byoper- "ating the eccentric bushing to throw out the drum gear frommeshing engagement with its i driving gear. It will thus be seen thatthe drums may be separately driven in cable winding direction at arelatively high speed and at a relatively low speed and the feed drummay be driven at a slow speed while the controlling drum isconcurrentlydriven at a fast speed. Also, when the disc clutch 45 is released,rotation of the controlling drum 6 in cable unwinding direction may befrictionally resisted by the brake 83, 84.

The mode of operation of a coal mining machine of the room and pillartype disclosed vis vwell known to those skilled in the art, and,therefore, a detailed description of the modeof operation of the machineis unnecessary. As is usual in coal mining machines of the typedisclosed, the feeding andl controlling cables 1 and 8 may have theirfree ends attached to appropriately located anchor jacks, and thefeeding drum 5 may be employed to wind inthe feeding cable to effectsumping of the cutter bar into the coal adjacent the right hand rib, andthereafter to feed the cutter bar transversely across the coal face.During the transverse cutting operation, the controlling drum 6 may windin the controlling cable at either low or high speeds to eifect guidingof the machine, and when the machine `approaches the left hand rib thecontrolling cable may also be employed to effect angling of the machinewith respect to the left hand rib. Thereafter the feeding cable `isproperly set up and then wound in by its drum to effect retraction ofthe machine to withdraw the cutter bar from the coal. i The feedingcable may be extended around the various guide sheaves along either sideof the machine, and preferably the feeding cable is extended along theright hand side of the machine to an anchor jack located near the righthand rib during the sumping operation.

As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improved miningmachine transmission mechanism is provided whereby the cable windingdrums may be rotated in cable winding direction at relatively high andrelatively low speeds. It will further be evident that by the provisionof the improved clutch-controlled connections between the low and highspeed gearings, either drum may be driven at either high or low speedsthrough either gearing and the feed drum may be driven at a slow speedwhile the controlling drum is concurrently vdriven at a fast speed. Itwill also be evident that by the provision of the novel transmissionconnections a plural speed transmission mechanism is provided which isextremely simple in construction. Other -uses and advantages of theimproved mining machine will be clearly apparent vto those skilled inthe art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form whichthe invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that thisform of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be modified and embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to beY driven, a high speed transmissionincluding a high speed controlling clutch through which one of saidmembers may be driven at a relatively high speed, a low speedtransmission including a low speed controlling clutch through which saidother member may be driven at a relatively low speed, and transmissionconnections driven by an element of said` low speed transmission andcontrolled by said low `speed controlling clutch for effecting drive ofsaid high speed driven Vmember at a relatively low speed.

2. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, a high speed transmissionincluding a high speed controlling clutch through which one of saidmembers may be driven at a relatively high speed, `Va low speedtransmission including a low speed -controllingclutch through which saidother member may be driven at a relatively low speed, and `transmissionconnections driven by an element ofy said high speed transmission andcontrolled by said high speed controlling clutch for driving said lowspeed driven member at a relatively high speed.

3. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, a high speed transmissionincluding a high speed controlling clutch through which one of saidmembers vmay be driven at a relatively high speed, a low speedtransmission including a low speed controllingclutch through which saidother member may be driven at a relatively low speed, transmissionconnections driven by an element of said low speed transmission andcontrolled by said low speed controlling clutch for effecting drive ofsaid high speed driven member at a relatively W speed, a brake forfrictionally resisting rotation of one of said members when the same isdisconnected from its drive, and clutch means for interrupting the drivethrough said transmission connections during braking of said member.

4. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, a high speed transmissionincluding a high speed controlling clutch through which one of saidmembers may be driven at a relatively high speed, Va 10W speedtransmission including a low speedcontrolling clutch through which saidother member may be driven at a re1- atively low speed, transmissionconnections driven by an element of said 10W speed transmission andcontrolled by said 10W speed controlling clutch for effecting drive ofsaid high speed driven memberr at a relatively low speed, a brake forfrictionally resisting the rotation of one of said members when the sameis disconnected from its drive, and means for interrupting the drivethrough said transmission connections during braking of said memberincluding areleasable clutch for disconnecting elements of saidtransmission connections.

5. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, and means for driving saidmembers one at a relatively high speed and the other at a relatively lowspeed including high and loW speed transmissions respectively havinghigh and low speed controlling clutches, and means operatively connectedto an element of said low speed transmission and controlled by said lowspeed controlling clutch for driving said high speed driven member at arelatively low speed.

6. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, and means for driving saidmembers one at a relatively high speed and the other at a relatively lowspeedv including high and low speed transmissions respectively havinghigh and low speed controlling'clutches, and means operatively connectedto an element of said low speed transmission v.and controlled byz saidlow speed controlling clutch for driving saidliigh speed driven memberat a relatively 10W speed, said last mentionedkmeans` includingtransmission shafting extending between said high and low speedtransmissions and distinct from the latter.

'7. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, a high speed transmissionincluding a high speed controlling clutch for driving one of saidmembers ata relatively high speed, a low speed transmission including alow speed controlling clutch for driving said other member at arelatively low speed, and driving connections distinct fromsaidtransmissions and operatively connected to and driven by an element ofvsaid loW speed transmission and controlled by said low speed controllingclutch for driving said high speed driven member at a relatively lowspeed.

8. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, a high speed transmissionincluding a high speed controlling clutch for driving one of saidmembers at a relatively high speed, a low speed transmission including alow speed controlling clutch for driving said other member at arelatively low speed, and driving connections distinct from saidtransmissions and connected to and driven by an element of said highspeed transmission and controlled by said high speed controlling clutchfor driving said low speed driven member at a relatively high speed.

9. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members Vto be driven, a high speed transmissionincluding a high speed controlling clutch for driving one of saidmembers at a relatively high speed, a loW speed transmission including alow speed controlling clutch for driving said other member atarelatively low speed, and driving connections operatively connected toand driven by an element of said low speed transmission and controlledby said low speed controlling clutch for driving said high speed drivenmember at a relatively low speed, said driving connections includingtransmission shafting arranged in parallelism with the elements of saidhigh and low speed transmissions.

10. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, a high speed transmissionincluding a high speed controlling clutch for driving one of saidmembers at a relatively high speed, a loW speed transmission including alow speed controlling clutch for driving said other member at arelatively low speed, driving connections operatively connected to anddriven by an element of said low speed transmission and controlled bysaid loW speed controlling clutch for driving said high speed drivenmember at a relatively low speed, and a brake for frictionally resistingrotation of said high speed driven member when the latter isdisconnected from its drive, said driving connections including a clutchfor interrupting the drive therethrough during braking of said member.

11. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, a high speed transmissionincluding a high speed controlling clutch for driving one of saidmembers at a relatively high speed, a low speed transmission including alow speed controlling clutch for driving said other member at arelatively low speed, and means for driving said high speed drivenmember at a relatively low speed including a transmission elementrotatable with an element of said low speed transmission and controlledby said low speed controlling clutch, and transmission connectionsbetween said transmission element and said high speed driven member.

12. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, a high speed transmissionincluding a high speed controlling clutch for driving one of saidmembers at a relatively high speed, a low speed transmission including alow speed controlling clutch for driving said other member at arelatively low speed, and means for driving said low speed driven memberat a relatively high speed including a transmission element rotatablewith an element of said high speed transmission and controlled by saidhigh speed controlling clutch, and transmission connections between saidtransmission element and said 10W speed driven member.

13. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, a loW speed transmissionincluding a 10W speed controlling clutch for driving one of said membersat a relatively low speed, a high speed transmission for driving saidother member at a relatively high speed, and supplemental drivingconnections driven through an element of said low speed transmission andcontrolled by said 10W speed controlling clutch for driving said highspeed driven member at a low speed.

14. A mining machine transmission mechanism comprising, in combination,relatively rotatable members to be driven, a 10W speed transmissionincluding a low speed controlling clutch for driving one of said membersat a relatively loW speed, a high speed transmission for driving saidother member at a relatively high speed, supplemental drivingconnections driven through an element of said low speed transmission andcontrolled by said low speed controlling clutch for driving said highspeed driven member at a relatively 10W speed, a brake for frictionallyresisting rotation of said high speed driven member When the latter isdisconnected from its drive, and clutch means for interrupting the drivethrough said supplemental driving connections during braking of saidmember. l

LEON E. SIMMONS.

v CERTIFICATE OE CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,555,518. l Novemberl 5o, 1915,

LEON E. SIMMONS It is hereby oertif ed that error appears in the printedspecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfollows: Page 5, first co lumn, line 18, for "gear 58 for" read -gear 58from; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

signed and. sealed this .8th dey of February, A. D. 191m.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

